Life cycle analysis

What is the Brundtland definition?

The Brundtland definition frames sustainable developments as a process that harmonizes:

• Resource use

• Investments

• Technological development

• Institutional change

with the goal of meeting present and future human needs

Where does PPP stand for?

• People: socials responsibility

• Planet: environmental responsibility

• Profit: economic performance

Name 2 worldviews.

1. Economy-centered view

2. Ecological view

What is integrated in the UN’s 17 SDGs?

• Social goals

• Environmental goals

• Economic and systemic goals

What do the UN’s 17 SDGs combine?

• Ultimate goals

• Policy hotspots

• Implementation mechanisms

Name 3 assessment tools for sustainability.

1. Goal-setting

2. System understanding

3. Decision support

Name 3 values of assessment tools.

1. Practical value: structured methods and data support

2. Methodological value: consistency and comparability

3. Social value: improved communication and decision-making

What are the 3 reasons why materials and energy flow are fundamental?

1. They link the economy to environmental impacts

2. They underpin production and consumption systems

3. They influence nearly all SDGs

Explain the dual role of material use.

• Negative: emissions, pollution, resource depletion

• Positive: enabling technologies

What is SDG12 and what does it emphasize?

Sustainable consumption and production, emphasizing:

• Resource efficiency

• Circular economy (reuse, recycling, repair)

• Policy and innovation

What are the 4 types of material flow?

1. Used vs. unused flows: economic vs. hidden environmental impacts

2. Direct vs. indirect flows: visible vs. supply-chain materials

3. Concentrated vs. dissipative flows: contained vs. disperse emissions

4. “Elephants” vs. “Scorpions”: large-volume vs. high-impact materials

How is MFA defined:

As the systematic analysis of material flows and stocks within a system over time and space.

What is a core principle of MFA?

Mass balance

What is the strength of MFA?

Making systems explicit, measurable and analyzable

What are the hierarchical levels of MFA?

Global → national → sector → firm → product

Name the 4 steps of MFA methodology.

1. System definition: define goal, scope, boundaries

2. Process identification: map flows quantitatively (flowcharts)

3. Quantification: collect data, ensure consistency, apply mass balance

4. Interpretation: analyze results and draw conclusions

Name 4 types of system boundaries.

1. Cradle-to-grave: full lifecycle

2. Cradle-to-gate: production only

3. Gate-to-gate: single process

4. Cradle-to-cradle: circular systems

Between which 2 things is boundary selection a trade-off?

Accuracy and feasability

What is a pragmatic approach?

80/20 rule

• Focus on major contributions

• Use estimates when necessary

What are 3 data management tools?

1. Research logs: transparency

2. Pedigree matrix: assess data quality

3. Mass balance equations: detect inconsistencies

What are flow charts?

• Show processes and connections

• Useful for system understanding

What are Sankey diagrams?

• Show magnitude of flows

• Width proportional to quantity

• Ideal for visualizing system efficiency

What is the difference between MFA and LCA?

• MFA tracks when materials come from and go

• LCA evaluates impacts on ecosystems and human health

What does an LCA provide?

A decision-support framework for comparing products and improving sustainability performance